‘Man City ahead of the curve’ as new AI deal agreed – boardroom source
Man City have struggled to perform on the pitch this season with Pep Guardiola’s side not in the Premier League title race and already eliminated from the Champions League.
However, the English champions have gone from strength to strength off the pitch – recording club-record revenue of £715million for the 2023-24 campaign.
City also posted profits of £73.8million – making them one of the only profitable outfits in the Premier League.
The club also claimed they “remained the Premier League’s most valuable football club brand” in the 2023-24 campaign – evidence of their incredible transformation in the last 15 years.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has lifted the lid on a brand new artificial intelligence (AI) partnership at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City set to ‘benefit greatly’ as global AI deal signed
Man City announced a multi-year global partnership with Publicis Sapient last week (21 February), naming the company as its “Official Digital Business Transformation Partner”.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted clubs at the forefront of using AI will “benefit greatly”.
The former Everton CEO insisted City want to be “ahead of the curve” in the new technological race.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Well, this plays into the whole AI conversation which is happening the world over right now.
“City want to make sure they’re using the most advanced technology across the whole club.
“It’s going to be how they handle the fans and engagement, how they do the analysis of players and opponents and so on.
“Publicis Sapient are one of the biggest in the world in terms of an AI agency and how they spot how it can be used.
“But like everybody right now, AI will have an effect. City want to make sure they are ahead of the curve with how they use it.
“I’ve seen a famous story of how AI was analysing an opposition team for a manager, and they were able to notice that the right-back had some blood vessels showing under his eye – so he wasn’t that fit.
“They worked out a strategy of substituting the winger to play against him in the last 10 minutes to try and take advantage.
“That gives an idea of how AI could be used, it’s a game of small margins. There are 1000 other ways it can be used for City.
“I’ve been analysing AI myself for the last four or five years, and the clubs at the front of this will benefit greatly. Of course, City want to be there.”
Man City identify two top summer targets
Football Insider revealed on Friday (28 February) that Man City are set to prioritise the signing of a new right-back and centre-midfielder in the summer.
City fast-tracked their transfer plans with their January signings which had initially been planned for the summer.
| Opponent (Competition) | Date (Venue) |
| Plymouth Argyle (FA Cup) | 1 March (H) |
| Nottingham Forest (Premier League) | 8 March (A) |
| Brighton & Hove Albion (Premier League) | 15 March (H) |
| Leicester City (Premier League) | 2 April (H) |
| Man United (Premier League) | 5 April (A) |
Guardiola’s side, who are in FA Cup action against Plymouth on Saturday (1 March), sit fourth in the Premier League.
For more Man City news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.